ATV Steering Coupling With Elastic Membrane for Misalignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In all-terrain vehicle steering mechanisms, manufacturing and assembly errors often result in a non-coaxial steering shaft, leading to a heavy or difficult-to-turn steering wheel, causing premature wear on fixing parts and compromising driving safety.
Innovation Solution
A steering mechanism featuring a connecting portion with a first and second shaft sleeve and an elastic membrane assembly, which includes a rigid spacer, compensates for axial, radial, and angular offsets between the steering shaft and power steering system, using an electric power steering system with splined connections and elastic membranes to maintain proper alignment and reduce wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the steering shaft is directly and rigidly coupled to the power steering system, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but manufacturing and assembly errors cause misalignment leading to heavy steering wheel and part wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a connecting portion with elastic membrane assembly as an intermediary between the steering shaft and power steering system. This mediator absorbs misalignment errors and prevents direct transmission of mechanical stress, resolving the contradiction by maintaining both ease of manufacture and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic membrane assembly changes the rigidity parameter of the connection, transitioning from a completely rigid coupling to a flexible coupling that can accommodate misalignment. This parameter change allows the system to maintain reliability while keeping the overall structure simple and easy to manufacture.
2Device complexity
If a rigid coupling is used between steering shaft and power steering system, then the structure is simple, but misalignment causes steering wheel to become heavy and difficult to turn
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic membrane assembly acts as a mediator that compensates for misalignment without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms. It maintains ease of operation by eliminating steering wheel heaviness while adding only minimal structural complexity through the connecting portion.
3Manufacturing precision
If direct rigid coupling is used, then manufacturing tolerances are easier to control, but long-term frequent steering causes part wear and affects driving safety
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic membrane assembly provides beforehand cushioning by absorbing misalignment errors before they can cause mechanical wear. This prior cushioning protects the steering system components during long-term frequent steering operations, maintaining reliability while allowing standard manufacturing tolerances.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution prevents steering wheel heaviness and part abrasion during frequent steering, enhancing operator controllability and ensuring driving safety by effectively addressing manufacturing errors and maintaining proper alignment through elastic deformation.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic membrane assembly, which includes at least one elastic membrane 331, compensates for axial, radial and angular offsets between the steering shaft 10 and the power steering system 20
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a steering mechanism of an all-terrain vehicle, including: a steering shaft (10); a power steering system (20); and a connecting portion (30) including a first shaft sleeve (31), a second shaft sleeve (32) and an elastic membrane assembly (33). The elastic membrane assembly (33) includes at least one elastic membrane (331). The first shaft sleeve (31) and the second shaft sleeve (32) are arranged on two sides of the elastic membrane assembly (33) and fastened to the elastic membrane assembly (33). An end of the first shaft sleeve (31) away from the elastic membrane assembly (33) is coupled to the steering shaft, and an end of the second shaft sleeve (32) away from the elastic membrane assembly (33) is coupled to the power steering system (20). Embodiments of the present disclosure further provide an all-terrain vehicle.